Glacier National Park

This trip is a D5 due to duration, distance and multiple hikes, but options are provided most days to hike fewer miles.  Join TLs Patrick and David as we descend upon Glacier National Park (GNP).  We’ll fly into Spokane late, grab cars and spend the night there.  We'll drive the next day to Glacier and spend the night tent camping, the next day at a wilderness camp after backpacking.  After that, we will spend our nights in the park in a rustic cabin in East Glacier.  The cabin does not have a bathroom nor shower but facilities are a short walk away.

Glacier National Park http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm offers some of the most amazing views in the lower 48.  Over 734 miles of trail exist in the park and many short trips can be found from Going to the Sun (GTS) Road.  With some notable exceptions, most trails are not loops and and have significant elevation change.  Your TLs plan to split the event into two groups for a portion of the trip.  One group will be a bit more “hard  core” and do D4 to D5 backpacking and day hikes while the other group will do mostly D4.  The groups will combine their hikes at times too.  We are including options for 2 longer 18 mile loop dayhikes, one with little elevation gain and the other with moderate gains for the distance involved.  The 2 day backpack includes an option to hike the entire Gunsight Pass trail (no out and back) and use the park shuttle on GTS to return to our cars.  Other hikes are typically out and back type hikes.

As with any long trip it is best to let your body recover for a day or two.  We have scheduled an off day to travel Going to the Sun Road - GTS.  We may include a ferry boat ride across a lake.  The ferry ride shortens the hike mileage and duration yet affords a picturesque view of the park from a unique perspective.

We'll primarily hike the eastern portion of the park in Many Glacier, Two Medicine and routes from GTS road.

Our plan is as follows but subject to change (elevation gains are approximate based upon significant continuous gains as noted in books or the internet, not GPS total gains):

Fri 8/23  We'll fly to Spokane, rent cars (four people in one and three in the other) and go to our hotel.

Sat 8/24 is a travel day starting early and get a tent site near or in the park.  We might souvenir shop, go to the visitor centers and a group might do the beautiful Hidden Lake (6 mi RT, 1340' gain) starting at the Logan Pass Visitor Center.   

Sun 8/25 – We'll backpack about 6 miles (600' gain) to Gunsight Lake wilderness camp.  We'll have options for a short side trip (extra 2 mile round trip) to Florence Falls, make camp, then take a day hike to an excellent view of Jackson Glacier, one of the larger glaciers in the park.  On the Continental Divide, Mt Jackson is one of ony two mountains in the park above 10000' at 10040', a little over 400 foot shorter than Mt Cleveland.

Mon 8/26 - One group could backpack out the way we came in, possibly after a day hike to beautiful Gunsight Pass (6 mi RT) and then do some shorter hikes along GTS run on the way back to our cabin.  The hardier group will backpack 14 mi (1700' gain to Lincoln Pass then a steep drop over the last 4-5 miles to Lake MacDonald area) to finish the Gunsight Pass trail, seeing Gunsight Pass, Lake Ellen Wilson, Lincoln Pass and Sperry Chalet.  We may also see Sperry Glacier coming down Gunsight Mountain (9258') on the divide but will likely not have the energy to do the long round tripper to walk on the glacier.

Tu 8/27 - We will drive up to Chief Mountain Customs (not crossing into Canada), park and take an easier day hike to hopefully some views of part of the huge Belly River area.  Some wanted to backpack this area but to do the entire Northern Loop would have been a 5-6 day backpack.  The hike is mostly flat and is a 12.5 mi out and back.

Wed 8/28 - We will day hike the popular Highline trail loop (12 mi with 600' elevation gain and significant elevation drops the last 4.5 mi from Granite Chalet).  The first 7.5 miles are on the Highline trail with the Garden Wall to our R, which is a steep alpine area with many wildflowers in the summer months.  The wall is just west of the continental divide.  For the hardy hikers, we have 2 options for beautiful views.  We will hike the Garden Wall trail (spur off Highline trail about 7 mi into the hike) to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, a notch in the Garden Wall above us to our R.  We will see views of the Salamander Glacier directly below to our right, the Upper Grinnell Lake and many other sights.  From Many Glacier area a drive to our north, the Grinnell Glacier trail ends down below us at the foot of Upper Grinnell Lake.  This is 1.6 mi RT and about 950' elevation gain to about 7500' elevation on a ridge that leads up to Mt Grinnell (8850') to our left (N and NE).  Mt Gould (9550') on the divide will be to the SE. 

Once we reach Granite Chalet, there is another option.  Some may hike 1.8 mi RT (500' gain) to Swiftcurrent Pass with its beautiful views.  The most hardy will add another 2.8 mi RT (1600' gain) up the switchbacks to the top of Swiftcurrent Mtn (8436') with its beautiful 360 degree views from the 'midsection; of the park, also on the Continental Divide. This may be the only established trail in the park to the top of one of the mountains on the divide with 360 degree views of mountains, lakes and valleys all around.

Then it's down the loop trail and park transit back to our cars.

Th 8/29 This is a rest day, laundry day etc, to get ready for the remainder of the trip.  If anyone wants, we could take a boat ride in Many Glacier and maybe do some hiking to Grinnell Glacier from the north end (10-11 mi RT w/o the boat ride, 1800' gain), or do a hike to Scenic Lookout (8 mi RT out and back, 2300' gain) with views of the Continental Divide and the Two Medicine valley lakes from the east at 7500' elevation.

Fr 8/30 After driving to Many Glacier, we will take the Ptarmigan Tunnel trail from Swiftcurrent Lodge to about 1/2 mile past the Ptarmigan Tunnel for the best scenic views of some of the Belly river area from the south (11.4 mi RT, 2100' gain).  For the more hardy, we will take a spur trail to Icebery Lake on the way back (4 mi RT, 450' gain).

Sat 8/31 We will drive to Two Medicine area.  Some may do the aforementioned Scenic Lookout trail (see Th).  Others will opt for the strenous Dawson/Pitamakan loop trail (18 mi with a short car shuttle, 3000' gain, a boat ride may cut out another 2.5 mi for some but start is 9:30am and all may not be able to get on).  We will take the the North Shore trail along the lakes (or a boat ride), then the Dawson Pass trail to windy Dawson Pass at close to 8000' on the Continental Divide.  Then it's down a little to Pitamakan Pass, then down the rest of the way by Oldman Lake and other sights.

Sun 9/1 This is a miscellaneous day with nothing planned.  We will travel back to Coeur d'Alene to our hotel on the lake, after perhaps dining with a Yak burger in Kalispell for lunch. 

Mon 9/2 Most flights leave early in the morning.  It's less than an hour from our hotel to the airport.

We are opening the event for registration but only to the waiting list until we confirm your camping and fitness level.  You will be contacted by TL Patrick in the order you register.  Members with limited camping experience may not be moved to the attendee list.  Once added to the attendee list, if you do not make payment by the cut-off date you will be removed from the event.

This park has grizzly bear and black bear, as well as wolf.  So we will need to discuss preparation for how to be wildlife aware.  Your leaders will help with purchase of items that cannot be included in checked bags.

Of special note - thank you to Andy Lovejoy for tips and the 411 on GNP and the surroundings.

Directions and travel arrangements will be provided at mandatory meeting.

The TLs will share their airline flight information so you may book your ticket accordingly.  We do not want someone arriving at 10am and another person at 10pm.  Many flights out of Atlanta arrive between 11am-3pm.  We are making all attempts to get to Spokane early Sat morning.

We'll purchase bear spray in MT since you can't fly with them per FAA regs.

The cabin has a grill so we'll mix going out to eat and group cooking.  Think fajitas, burgers, chicken, seafood, wraps, etc.

The cabin is more or less a big wooden tent if you think about it.  See the link, we are the 2 room camping cabin (w/o bathroom), the fourth option down.  It is no frills, see required items above.

https://koa.com/campgrounds/st-mary/site-type/cabin-accommodations/

Cabin from 8/24-8/31, auto rental, auto fuel,

All permits, cabin lodging, automobile fuel and car rental costs are split evenly between all participants

Additional Payment Information:  Payment in full is due 7 days after TL confirms you meet camping and hiking requirements or by July 3, 2013, whichever comes first.   You will be moved to the waiting list if you fail to meet this deadline. 

Payment may be made via PayPal, PC Banking or Check. It is your responsibility to get the deposit payment and/or balance payment to the AOC by the due dates. Allow two days processing for PayPal and PC Banking and ten days for mailed a check.  Member cost is $450 if paying by check.

Cost DOES NOT INCLUDE

Tips, food, stove gas, Airfare, Hotel 8/23 and 9/1 (suggest you split with other AOC member), ferry boat ride, bear spray

*Note:

This trip requires a minimum number (7) of participants. Therefore, there will be no refunds for cancellations unless someone (approved by the trip leaders) replaces you from the wait list and pays in full. If you are replaced per the previous steps, you will receive a full refund less a $19 administrative fee if paying via PayPal and a $5 admin. fee if paying by check.  No refunds after July 3rd.